Further to the message sent to all members, the Charlton Society invited all members to share images of what they have been up during lockdown.

We have received so many images, from so many members, please see below.

From member Jane Lawson, we have a wonderful selection of images of many walks taken in Charlton and surrounding environs, from Petts Woods, Joydens Wood, Footscray Meadows, River Darent in Deptford and Woolwich Common. Jane has also spotted an intriguing amount of local wildlife, including a red beetle and parakeets enjoying a bit of romance! There are also haunting images of Greenwich Cemetery, where patients from the Royal Herbert Hospital are buried.

Another member, Geoff Cooper, has sent in a number of interesting images, from painted sculptures in Charlton Park, a panoramic view of a well-maintained back garden (don’t we all wish ours looked like that!), plus a glimpse of a cinnabar moth, often mistaken for a butterfly, plus a view of Geoff’s living room, as Geoff, I think all of us are familiar with spending more time in our own than usual! Geoff also includes an audio of pigs, peacocks and donkeys having a chat, please listen here. . Either beautiful or cacophanous!

We also have wonderful panoramic video footage from the top of St Luke’s tower taken by Rick Newman, churchwarden and Charlton Society Committee member, taken from north, south, east and west aspects. Details of landmarks are listed below each video.

North

Greenwich Power Station, London Eye, Guy’s Hospital Tower, The Shard, BT Tower, St Paul’s Cathedral, The City (inc 22 Bishopsgate, “Walkie Talkie”, “The Gherkin”), Fossdene School (foreground), Canary Wharf, Parliament Hill /Hampstead Heath, Greenwich Peninsula/O2 Arena, Emirates Air Line, Bugsby’s Reach, Greenwich retail park, Sainsbury’s distribution centre, DLR, (foreground) Charlton Church Lane and new estate being constructed in Fletching Road, Valiant House (Valley Grove), Excel Centre (Docklands), Charlton Riverside, DLR, Silvertown, Thames Barrier Gardens, Thames Barrier, The Valley – CAFC, Westminster Industrial Estate, Newham College, Tate & Lyle, Essex hills by Brentwood, London City Airport, Valleyside (Lansdowne Lane), Fairfield Health Centre, chimney in Woolwich Dockyard, multi-storey blocks by Woolwich Ferry

South

Earle Place, The Orangery – Charlton House, Eltham Common/Jack Wood on Shooters Hill, North Downs, multi-storey blocks by Kidbrooke Station, Springfield Estate (foreground), Crystal Palace Transmitting Station, Forest Hill, Lewisham Gateway, St John’s, Blackheath

East

The Valley, The Heights (SE7), Westminster Industrial Estate, Newham College, Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery, London City Airport, Valleyside, Fairfield Health Centre, chimney in Woolwich Dockyard, multi-storey blocks by Woolwich Ferry, Woolwich Arsenal riverside tower blocks, wind turbines (Dagenham and Erith), The Rotunda (tip), The Village – Charlton, tower blocks in Woolwich and Plumstead, Shooters Hill slopes, Greenwich Heights. Earle Place, The Orangery – Charlton House

West

Crystal Place Transmitting Station, Lewisham Gateway, St John’s Blackheath, tower block in Vanbrugh Park Estate, Greenwich Observatory (Time Ball), Nine Elms development in Battersea, multi-storey buildings in Walworth/Elephant & Castle, Greenwich Power Station, London Eye, Guy’s Hospital Tower, The Shard, BT Tower, St Paul’s Cathedral, The City (inc 22 Bishopsgate, “Walkie Talkie”, “The Gherkin”), Fossdene School (foreground), Canary Wharf, Parliament Hill /Hampstead Heath, Greenwich Peninsula/O2 Arena, Emirates Air Line (cable car), Bugsby’s Reach – River Thames.

We also have member Gulle Stubbs and four-legged friend Jasper, enjoying a daily walk, plus dealing with the high temperatures recently!

We also have some lockdown images from Chair, Carol Kenna to share; from enjoying a lazy sunny day in the park,  purchasing plants from the successful Charlton Community Gardens plant sale in June, a reminder that rubbish is everyone’s responsibility, weeding the raised beds in Charlton Village as part of SOVAP project, and enjoying a picnic in the garden with the grandchildren.

We have also heard from another member, Carol Hayward,  who has been keeping busy in the garden and painting. The still life paintings include bread that has been delivered by her neighbour, the flowers were from Carol’s garden and the Village Co-op, and the fruit is from the Village greengrocer.

Another Committee member, Ruth Dodson, has sent in some images, having spent a lot of lockdown trying to tidy up a previously rather overgrown garden, purchasing bright garden furniture and making friends with a resident fox (just visible!), plus help weed the raised beds in Charlton Village with Carol and Roden.

Additionally we have had a lovely message from member Rosemary Heath, who has been sharing lockdown with her cat, although we do not have images:

“Supplies were running low but I discovered that the pet shop on Old Dover Road was willing to deliver requests. This worked splendidly; the owner is very helpful and cheerful, delivers the same day of ordering and one pays in cash (which luckily I had stocked up on before lockdown – who says we should have a cashless society?). The range is not quite what the cat is used to but he is knuckling down to what comes up.

I live in Tudor Grange, which some members may know. There are about 30 of us here and some still meet for coffee mornings, 2 metres apart of course, so for the slightly deaf ones such as myself it is slightly difficult to maintain a conversation. Visitors are discouraged, unless they are close family. However we mostly remain fairly cheerful but just hope restrictions will ease as it gets a bit boring, one cannot read or watch TV all the time. But we have a nice garden and can meet there for a chat (and moan).  I expect many people are in a similar position.”

Committee member David Gardner has also sent in some lockdown images, he has been doing lots of cycling, whatever the weather, volunteering for the RBG Community Hub, attending BLM event (whilst adhering to social distancing of course), been to the Queen Elizabeth to clap the NHS staff, dining in the sunshine in the garden, and getting a haircut! And then of course looking forward to the opening of the Bugle…

Please feel free to send your images to share. Please click here